Sending You Love

Hello!

Today I decided to make a card using several products from Altenew and a new technique that I just learned from Altenew's class 'Irresistible Inking Techniques' as part of my continuing participation in their educator certification program.  After watching the lessons, I decided to use my ink pads in two ways:  using a brayer to apply ink to the cardstock and to edge the cardstock with the ink pad.  I have a brayer that I purchased eons ago for some other reason and never really used it so I was excited to learn this technique.  I will explain my process further below.

For the background panel, I used low tack tape to tape an 8 1/2" x 11" smooth cardstock onto my work surface.  Next, I grabbed my lightest blue ink pad to press some ink alongside the cardstock onto my work surface.  I used a spray bottle to lightly spray some clean water onto the ink.  I then used my brayer and rolled it over the ink and made sure that the whole roller was inked.  I then rolled that onto the cardstock, in various directions reapplying the ink as I went along.  This gave a random pattern of splotches as well as different shades of ink depending on how much water was used.

After letting that dry for a few moments, I cut the cardstock into four panels measuring 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (A2 card size).  I selected the panel I liked the best and then using the same ink pad, I scraped the pad in a downward motion along the edges only.  This provided a thin, rustic look to the edge without needing to use another cardstock panel.

Next, I die cut the magnolia dies from white cardstock and then ink blended each layer using three shades of pinks.  Gluing the layers together was a breeze because of Altenew's easy instructions.

While the glue was drying on the magnolias, I die cut the waffle die and frames and laid them onto the panel to give me an idea how to proceed further.  After a moment or so for the magnolias to dry, I laid them onto the frames which were pretty, but I felt that it needed some leaves.  Since leaves didn't come with the magnolia die set, I improvised and used layering stamps from another set that I had.  After inking and die cutting several leaves, I moved them around the frame and underneath the magnolias.  Once I was satisfied with the placement, I taped the magnolias and the leaves together with low tack tape, and removed them from the frame so I can glue them together.  For the magnolia on the right, I glued three leaves directly onto the panel since I liked where they were placed.

I took the black frame and glued that directly onto the panel.  For the waffle die, I adhered that to the back of the white frame and cut off the excess.  I added some foam strips behind the white frame before adding that inside the black frame.

Finishing the card, I glued the magnolias onto the frame with the one on the right tucked under the waffle die a little bit.  I inked the sentiment in black pigment ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Using black ink coordinated well with the black frame.

Products used:

Altenew:

• Delicate Magnolia Layering Die Set
• Pretty Pansies Layering Stamps (for the leaves only)
• Piped Waffle Die
• Bold Sentiments Stamp Set
• Inks:  Iceburg (for the background panel), Pink Diamond, Pinkalicious, Razzleberry, Minty Mint, Sweet Leaf, Just Green, Hunter Green

I loved doing this background technique and can't wait to play a little more with different colors.  I'm thinking a bright cheery birthday card next!

If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below.

Thank you for stopping by!